論孟子的「知言」和「養氣」──以「兼善」為出發點

Abstract

摘要 《孟子》第二章〈知言養氣〉章受歷代學者高度重視，其中「知言」和「養氣」是該章的兩個重要概念，筆者收集相關的研究論文後，針對夏世華、陳立鑲、王慧茹先生的三篇論文進行分析，發現這些研究論文對「知言」和「養氣」都呈現偏於精神面的解釋，於此，筆者重新審視全章，並以更全面的視野解釋「知言」和「養氣」，筆者稱前者為「獨善」，稱後者為「兼善」，並以〈論孟子的「知言」和「養氣」──以「兼善」為出發點〉為題展開相關的研究。 夏世華先生認為知言就是辨志、明心的修身工夫，知言是養浩然之氣的基礎，並說知言和養浩然之氣都歸結到心的存養上；王慧茹先生認為孟子以「養氣」為工夫，講求一種道德實踐，而「知言」的判斷來自心之本體，要能「知言」，必須要「養氣」；陳立驤先生認為不論知言或養氣都應歸根於良知，養氣是以良知來養勇，知言的判斷動力、根源即是良知自身。三人的研究都不離「心」，雖然「心」是重要的課題，但是「知言」和「養氣」的解釋絕不僅止於「心」的精神面強調。孟子自言他擅長「知言」和「養氣」，並進一步說「知言」是知他人之言，「養氣」是養浩然之氣，已非僅止於主體的修養工夫，而是主體向外影響客體的過程，因此，必須「心」的精神面與「物」的現實面同時兼備的「兼善」觀點，才能對「知言」和「養氣」有正確的解釋。 本文即以「兼善」為出發點，重新檢視《孟子》一書中佔重要地位的「知言」和「養氣」兩大概念。 關鍵詞：孟子、知言、養氣、兼善

Abstract Chapter Two of Mencius has been much discussed by scholars throughout history, and “knowing words” and “nourishing ch’i” are two important concepts in it. After I collected related theses and chose three representative ones, written by Xia Shihua, Chen Lixiang, and Chen Lixiang, to analyze, I discovered that these explanations are limited to the spiritual side. Therefore, I looked over the overall chapter again in order to give a more comprehensive explanation of “knowing words” and “nourishing ch’i”. I retranslated the former as “benefitting oneself” and the latter as “benefitting others”. Mr. Xia thought “knowing words” meant to look after one’s conduct by self-examination, which is the foundation of “nourishing ch’i”. Both “knowing words” and “nourishing ch’i” are linked to cultivating the “heart”. Mrs. Wang thought of “nourishing ch’i” as a kind of moral realization. The criterion of “knowing words” is from the heart. To be able to “know words”, one must first “nourish ch’i”. Mr. Chen thought that both “knowing words” or “nourishing ch’i” are rooted in the conscience. “Nourishing ch’i” means nourishing braveness by conscience. “Knowing words” is powered by and based on conscience. The three researchers all focus on “heart”. Although “heart” is an important topic, “knowing words” and “nourishing ch’i” are not just limited to the spiritual side of things. Mencius said he was good at “knowing words” and “nourishing ch’i” and that “knowing words” was knowing others’ words and “nourishing ch’i” was nourishing “awe-inspiring, righteous ch’i”. Both proceed not only from the cultivation of “heart” but also from the process of influence of a subject onto an object. The concept of “benefitting others” includes the spiritual side, “heart”, and the substantiated side, “material”, and can give a comprehensive explanation of “knowing words” and “nourishing ch’i”. My thesis is that “benefitting others” should be the starting point for reviewing two important concepts in Mencius, “knowing words” and “nourishing ch’i”. Keywords: Mencius, knowing words, nourishing ch’i, benefitting others